PART 1
Maria stood outside the train station overwhelmed by the river of cars and taxis flowing steadily in front of her.
"All aboard," she heard in the distance behind her.
"No turning back now," she thought, as the train that had delivered her here whirred to life in the background ready to take a new set of passengers to a far-off destination.
August 4, 1924, New York City. A thriving metropolis full of fun and adventure. A far cry from the Canadian Provincial town Maria was from. But this, this is where a hungry artist like Maria could find her place and the appreciation for her craft that was so desperately lacking among the farmers and housewives back home.
Local theater is fine for local level talent, but Maria was special. A true classic beauty. Black hair down to her soft shoulders that curled ever so slightly toward her elegant neck at the bottom. Flawless porcelain skin. The kind of striking blue eyes so deep the average man would get lost in them for days. The pink highlights on the bulbs of her cheeks perfectly matched her full lips. Her body was slender in build, tiny waist, and long legs for someone so short. Her small breasts were nothing to write home about, but they were as pert and perky as you'd expect on the fresh frame of a 21-year-old farm girl. Life on the farm was far from glamorous, but the constant walking, bending and squatting to milk the cows every day was very worth it for one thing.... Maria had the butt of a Goddess. Plump and firm; perfectly shaped. A true juicy peach that had all the small-town boys she knew drooling every time she'd walk by in her denim jeans at the farmers market in town. All of them secretly wishing to one day get a chance to take a bite.
Maria stood there soaking in the scene in front of her, daydreaming about the adventure that lay before her here in the Big Apple. She was quickly brought back into the present as a passing cab drove through a puddle, splashing muddy water all over Maria's blue and white polka dotted dress and splattering her pale face with enough thick liquid to make a working girl blush. The water was so cold it took Maria's breath away.
"Great," moaned Maria, taking a handkerchief from her handbag. Maria began to ineffectively wipe the mud off her Sunday best. She bent down to clean the pleats of her skirt as one of the passengers from the next arriving train rushed by her. The contact sent Maria tumbling forward into the street.
"Beep!" screamed the horn of an oncoming car. Maria looked up just in time to see the headlights of the car barreling toward her. Time instantly began to move in slow motion.
Maria felt a hand forcefully grab her by the wrist. A strong muscular hand, not unlike the hands of the farm boys back home. Hands that were hard and thick from days and seasons of baling hay and working the fields.
Then came a forceful jerk that nearly separated Maria's arm from her shoulder permanently. In one move Maria went from a seated position on the ground in the middle of road, to being airborne, to landing clumsily on her feet on the curb; just in time for the car to pass by leaving her unharmed.
Off kilter from the adrenaline of the situation Maria looked up at the man holding her wrist. As he came into focus she saw above her a masculine man. She first noticed his sharp and angular jawline covered with a stubble that was a couple days past needing a shave. She then moved up to the man's crooked nose. Not drastically crooked, but definitely pushed slightly to the right. His nose came to a point at the end of a line as angular as his jaw. As she continued to move up his face she was taken aback by his black eyes. She had never seen eyes so dark. They were serious and mysterious. There was something monstrous lurking beneath them, but somehow, she was still drawn into them and couldn't look away.
Time began to move at regular speed again when Maria finally heard him speak.
"Honey, you ain't going to last very long here if you keep finding yourself in front of moving cars like this!" He said in a raspy baritone voice.
"Thank you," Maria squeaked out in hushed, breathy tones.
"No worries, Doll Face," said the man. "Where are you headed?"
"I'm heading to the Mainard School of Performing Arts on 49th Street."
"Oh, so you're one of 'those girls,'" he said.
"One of 'those girls?'" she inquired.
"Yeah, one of those girls coming to the big city to make a name for yourself and become a big star." teased the man. "Well, you've got a ways to go to get all the way up to 49th"
"Yes, sir. I was getting ready to get a taxi when you saved me." said Maria
"I find it's a lot safer to whistle for a cab to make him stop than it is to throw yourself in front of one. I'm Joe, what's your name?" he asked.
"I'm Maria." she stated with a nod.
"Ahh another Maria, just like every other good Catholic girl this side of the Mississippi. How original of your parents!" Joe laughed
"I assure you, sir, I'm not like any Maria you've ever met before!" she said confidently.
"I tell you what unique Maria, I have one more delivery to make tonight, but if you don't mind tagging along, I'd be happy to drop you off at your fancy art school when I'm done," said Joe.
Maria didn't quite know what to say. She needed a ride, but was in a new city with a stranger, and his proposition frightened her. But she was here for adventure and this man did just save her life. Joe was a delivery man, so clearly respectable enough to hold down a job.
"I don't mind tagging along, thanks." she replied.
"No problem, honey. Let me finish loading up here and we'll be on our way." Joe said. He continued over to the outside corner of the train station and began loading boxes that had been brought to him by some workers from the last train. Maria watched as he quickly and efficiently picked up the heavy crates, similar to the ones her family used to deliver milk, and organized them in his truck. There was something familiar about the way he moved that reminded her of the farm boys back home. But he was far from a farm boy. Joe was a city man through and through. He wore a suit and tie and a nice hat, but you could tell he wasn't high class. He wasn't as prim and proper as the fancy and famous men she'd seen in the newspapers. Joe was different. A real working-class stiff. He was the kind of guy who expertly straddled that line between high society and the pauper class he was surrounded by. There was something about this that made Maria feel comfortable and at ease.
"Alright young lady, your chariot awaits," called out Joe from the corner.
Maria hurried over to his truck where he had the door open for her. She gingerly sat herself down and placed her handbag and small suitcase on her lap as he closed the door.
"Just gotta drop this shipment over at Crazy Lou's and then we'll head right on up to your fancy smancy school for famous people." poked Joe.
The two made small talk through downtown before Joe turned off into an alleyway just off the main strip. The alley was dark, and had Joe not been there Maria would have been terrified. The truck slowed to a stop just past a metal door with no windows.
"Sit tight sweetheart, I'll be back in two shakes of a lamb's tail!" commanded Joe.
He got out of the truck and went up to the door. He knocked on the door and a small square hole appeared from the inside at face level. Maria could hear some muffled talking and then the door opened. Joe came back to the truck and began to carry the crates up to two large men standing in the doorway. After the last crate the men briefly talked some more. Maria heard Joe say, "Yeah, it's in the car, I'll grab it."
He opened Maria's door and said, "excuse me, honey" as he reached across to the visor on the driver's side of the vehicle to retrieve an envelope. Maria felt slightly awkward about the proximity of Joe's body to hers. She caught a whiff of him as his neck and chest moved in front of her face. It wasn't the smelly must of a boy who had just gotten home from a hard day in the fields, but it still had a hint of the sweat of a man who worked and perspired over his labor. There was also a slight hint of black licorice. She couldn't place where it would have been coming from, but it was present and reminded her a bit of her father back home. Truth be told it wasn't a pleasant smell. But, somehow, at the same time, it was somewhat intoxicating for Maria to breathe him in. As she drew a deep breath, she could feel her heart start to beat faster.
Joe didn't linger, he was there to work. He grabbed the envelope and quickly exited the vehicle. He delivered the envelope to the men, they exchanged thank you's, and he returned to the proper side of the truck.
"Alright Maria, let's get you home." Joe said.
The two continued to make small talk until they arrived at the dormitory Maria was to be staying in.
"Here we are. It was very nice meeting you, Maria." he said.
